Hon. W. R. MOTHERWELL (Melville):

Mr. Speaker, arising out of the reply of the Prime Minister might I ask if he does not think that the time has come when this house should have a day set apart to discuss this international wheat agreement? I cannot debate the matter upon the orders of the day, but if I had a right to do so I would ask it as a question of privilege. If we can afford to take a day to discuss sweepstakes surely we can afford to take a day to discuss this international agreement which has not yet been concurred in by this house, and which is a very much more important matter than many sweepstakes.

Mr. BENNETT:

Mr. Speaker, the matter

has been discussed so frequently and at great length that it is not the intention of the government to set aside a day for the purpose.

Mr. J. A. BRADETTE (North Timiska-ming):

I wish to direct a question to the

hon. Secretary of State. There is a clause in the amended Ontario Electoral Act which I believe interferes with federal rights. Under that clause a woman who became a British subject through marriage or through the naturalization of a parent when she was a minor is compelled to go through various court processes before she can vote. I would ask the hon. Secretary of State if this does not conflict with the federal law.

Hon. C. H. CAHAN (Secretary of State):

Mr. Speaker, the Ontario legislature has complete jurisdiction with respect to its own electoral act. It may allow all British subjects to vote or it may preclude certain classes of British subjects from voting, and therefore I think its electoral act is probably within its legislative jurisdiction, although that is a matter upon which the Minister of Justice could give a more authoritative opinion than I.

Hon. W. R. MOTHERWELL (Melville):

Mr. Speaker, I do not like to refer again to the return that I have asked for with respect to the Hon. Mr. Marler and his report to the government on the possibilities of extending our trade with the orient in wheat and flour. If I had the right under a question of privilege to discuss it a little bit I would do so, Mr. Speaker, because the return placed in my hands is about as hollow as a drum and as informative as the dodo. An order has been passed by this house instructing the government to make a return giving the correspondence and cablegrams of the Hon. Mr. Marler and any other documents, not merely fiddle-dee-dee letters such as were tabled and which I have here in my hand.

I want the report of the Hon. Mr. Marler and I think the Minister of Trade and Commerce (Mr. Stevens) has it. If I know anything about this thing, he is the sinner. I should like to hear from him. I have tried to be very generous because of the action of his officers the other day when they came to my room and told me that there were so many documents to copy, and we agreed as to what should be returned.

Mr. SPEAKER:

If the hon. member is

not satisfied with the return, he may ask for a further return but this is not the occasion to make a speech.

Soldier Settlement Act

Mr. MOTHERWELL:

All right, but I

want the Minister of Trade and Commerce to ante up with the real return or there will be trouble around here.

Mr. E. J. YOUNG (Weyfoum):

Some three weeks ago I asked the Minister of Trade and Commerce (Mr. Stevens) a question with regard to the export price of nickel. I wonder if he is able to give me an answer in that regard.

Hon. H. H. STEVENS (Minister of Trade and Commerce):

Mr. Speaker, the question

asked by the hon. gentleman is a very difficult one to discuss or answer in the way which he has in mind. The bureau of statistics, under the Statistics Act, a statute of this country which definitely and absolutely controls its activities, secures information from various sources which is strictly confidential. It is provided by that act-I think the same thing applies to other information under other statutes-that where the information is from one firm and the publication of that information would be a disclosure of the firm's private affairs, it is not competent for an official to give out the information. As far as he has been able to do so the dominion statistician has complied with the request. Personally, I think it is unfair to discuss the affairs of an industry which is in fact a single company industry under, shall I say-I do not blame my hon. friend in this respect-the guise of public statistics. I am sorry it has not been possible to give publicly the answer which the hon. gentleman desires but I think he will agree that I have done everything which could be reasonably expected to be done to meet his wishes. I should be very glad to discuss this further with him but the fact remains that there is a statute which controls the officials of the government. If the hon. gentleman would intimate to me privately any further information he desires, I will have an investigation made within the ambit of the statute and see if we cannot meet his wishes.

Mr. MOTHERWELL:

We will wait until

to-morrow.

Mr. STEVENS:

I was speaking to the

hon. member for Weyburn (Mr. Young) on another question altogether.

Mr. MOTHERWELL:

You were looking

squarely at me.

Mr. STEVENS:

I was looking over my

hon. friend's head.

Mr. MOTHERWELL:

I thought the hon.

gentleman must be talking Dutch if he were answering my question.